10 Things You Should Know About Asia Bibi: Christian Woman Sentenced To Death in Pakistan

Ashiq Masih, husband of Asia , and their two daughters in a 2010 photo

By now, you have surely heard of the Pakistani Christian woman who is the first to be sentenced to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. You may be trying to make sense of the case, and determine what this believer is going through right now. Here is some information for you to know, so you can best be praying for her:

Asia received the death penalty in 2010 after she allegedly made negative comments about the Prophet Mohammed while arguing with a Muslim woman

That Muslim woman and her sister were the only two witnesses

She is 50 years old and has five children

Asia has already spent 5 years in prison, after being arrested in 2009

Pope Benedict XVI has appealed to the Pakistani government for mercy on this case

Legal sources told World Watch Monitor that judges were unwilling to take on the case because of their fear of retaliation from extremist groups

Asia’s attorney, Naeem Shakir, quoted the Pakistan Penal Code in her defense: “The contention raised is that any disrespect or use of derogatory remarks etc. in respect of the Holy Prophet comes within the purview of hadd (‘Islamic law’) and the punishment of death provided in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah cannot be altered.” If this were true, Asia’s trial should be declared unlawful

Since being imprisoned in 2009, Asia’s husband and children have had to go in and out of hiding

Bibi’s attorney’s will submit a final appeal to the Pakistani Supreme Court within 30 days

Join Open Doors in keeping Asia Bibi in your prayers, and ask for God’s will to be done in her situation. We pray that her witness will bring many more into a saving faith. Source: World Watch Monitorand Huffington Post